Chicago’s Loop Jams to Color –Erik Cagle

Streets, sidewalks and buildings were among the elements adorned by Stockholder’s shining substrates. The four vinyls used were a foil-backed adhesive for the streets and sidewalks; a perforated vinyl for glass surfaces; a third for wrapping around traffic lights; and the final a scrim to hang over various materials such as masonry and concrete.

“The reflection is really beautiful,” Stockholder told the Chicago Tribune. “It picks up details like I couldn’t have imagined. The challenge was to have the work maintain itself in the middle of all this. The hope is it does that while embracing all of the busyness and clatter.”

Stockholder had to make concessions to see her project reach fruition. She could not bathe the entire intersection in color due to safety concerns. Instead, the colored geometric shapes enabled the crosswalks and intersection to function without endangering pedestrians or commuters.

“(The city) doesn’t want to have accidents and get sued,” she noted.

MIDDLE EAST GROWTH: During the course of a drupa year, a bevy of press releases tend to come across the wire. Some are garden variety, while others grab your attention in an instant. One Goss International release fit the latter description.

One of the most noteworthy contract signings saw Al-Wifaq Printing agree to purchase a pair of 16-page Goss M-600 web presses. Al-Wifaq Printing is located in Iraq, which is not exactly a hub for printing activity. According to Muthanna Samad Al-Samarraie, owner and managing director of the Baghdad-based firm, the 2013 installations will help contribute toward the development of the printing industry in the Arab nation.

“Iraq is currently going through an intensive investment program, but technical capabilities are only one side of the equation,” Al-Samarraie remarked. “We aim to invest in the latest, state-of-the-art technologies that will allow us to reflect the unique spirit and artistic endeavors of our nation. We are investing for the ability to produce publications with the highest quality and aesthetic appeal so that we can give clients the means to express their creative ideas in beautiful, highly impressive print.”